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Peavy, Lindstrom want to stay, but aware of rumors

Peavy, Lindstrom want to stay, but aware of rumors

7/19/13: Robin Ventura and Jake Peavy look ahead to the second half of the 2013 season, focusing on improving and consistent play

By Scott Merkin
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MLB.com |

CHICAGO -- The White Sox seem to have a common theme running through the clubhouse where handling trade rumors are concerned.

Since nobody outside of Paul Konerko has complete say in a potential deal, there's no reason to spend much time thinking about them.

"As far as getting traded and stuff like that, I've been through that a bunch before," said White Sox reliever Matt Lindstrom, near the top of the list in terms of interest from other teams. "I've switched teams six times in the last five years. Anything can happen at any point."

"I've never been in a situation like this. I don't know what to expect," starting pitcher Jake Peavy said. "I don't know what the communication lines are and it doesn't bother me that I don't know."

Peavy was traded from the Padres to the White Sox in 2009 and had to waive a full no-trade clause for the trade to happen just minutes before the non-waiver Trade Deadline. In fact, Peavy vetoed a May attempt by then general manager Ken Williams to bring him to the South Side.

Now the right-hander stands as another trade candidate for a contender if he can prove himself recovered from a fractured rib on his left side that has meant mound inactivity since June 4 in Seattle. Peavy was activated from the disabled list Friday and slated to start Saturday, with a plethora of scouts figuring to be on hand for that outing.

Lindstrom holds a 2.86 ERA over a team-high 46 games, along with an American League relief-best 11 opponents double plays induced and not having given up a home run over 37 2/3 innings. He shares a common bond with Peavy in that both of them chose to be with the White Sox, with Peavy even foregoing a potentially more lucrative free agent process to stay.

Neither of them want to leave. Then again, neither of them are really worried about their working address potentially changing.

"Things haven't worked out the way I thought they would go either as a free agent and knowing a little bit about this team and stuff like that," Lindstrom said. "You can't put your finger on any one thing. But I love the guys in this clubhouse. I would like to see us do something in the second half."

"I do want to win. That's the only interest I have in playing this game, is to find a way to be a champion," said Peavy, who has stated numerous times that he wants to stay in Chicago. "Do I think it can happen here? Absolutely. This year we put ourselves in quite a bind. That has to be [general manager] Rick [Hahn] and those guys' decision, whether I'm a part of it going forward or going to help bring a player in a trade, so we'll see."

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.